Dispenser for coiled sheet material



Feb. 22, 1966 R. M. MARTIN 3,236,427

DISPENSER FOR COILED SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 28, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ROY M. MARTIN HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 F5. M. MARTIN 3,236,427

DISPENSER FOR GOILED SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 28, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROY M. MARTIN HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 22, 1966 MARTlN 3,236,427

DISPENSER FOR COILED SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 28, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ROY M. MARTIN z 277% HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent M DISPENSER FOR (IOILED SHEET MATERIAL Roy M. Martin, Heinrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 297,169 6 Claims. (Cl. 225-96) This invention relates to an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material such as metallic foil or the like, as well as to improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

It is well known that there is a greater use today for coiled sheet material in the home or the like. For example, such sheet material can comprise metallic foil, such as aluminum-containing metallic foil or the like, waxed paper, plastic sheet material and the like.

In the past, such coiled sheet material was normally merchandised in paper board containers having means for severing a dispersed length of the coiled material thereof.

However, because such prior known container means are not normally attractive, the same are normally disposed in an out of the way location whereby the user must take time from a desired wrapping operation to locate the container and sever a length therefrom in the conventional manner.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, an improved dispenser for such coiled sheet mate rial is provided which is not only attractive in design so that the same can be located in view and in reach of the user thereof, but also the dispenser of this invention provides means for readily dispensing and severing desired lengths of the coiled material in a manner hereinafter described.

In addition, while the dispenser of this invention is relatively simple to operate, the same provides a substantially dust proof container for storing the coiled sheet material when the same is not in use.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material or the like, the dispenser having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved dispenser of this invention with the front cover thereof in a raised position.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the dispenser illustrated in FIGURE 2 with the front cover thereof disposed in its closed position.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the front cover in its closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary and broken-away front view of the dispenser illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and illustrates the method of unlocking the roller of the dispenser of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the parts illustrated in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of FIGURE 2.

3,236,427 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line 10-40 of FIGURE 9.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for forming a dispenser for coiled sheet material, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved dispenser of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a substantially rectangular receptacle 21 having an open front side 22 interconnected with a compartment 23 therein, the front side 22 of the receptacle 21 being adapted to be closed by a pivotally mounted cover 24 in a manner hereinafter described.

While the receptacle 21 and cover member 24 can be formed of any suitable material in any suitable manner, the embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings are formed by suitably molding plastic material or the like, such as polystyrene or the like.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the receptacle 21 includes a rear wall 25 integrally interconnected to a substantially horizontal top wall 26 and a downwardly sloping bottom wall 27, the bottom wall 27 comprising two substantially flat portions 28 and 29 respectively angled at different angles relative to the horizontal whereby a coil of sheet material 30 disposed in the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21 is forced by gravity toward the open front side 22 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

The rear wall 25 is reinforced to the top wall 26 of the receptacle 21 by a plurality of spaced and like members or gussets 31 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

The opposed ends of the receptacle 21 are closed by like end walls 32 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

The dispenser 20 of this invention is adapted to be suspended under a horizontally disposed supporting member, such as the bottom wall of a kitchen cabinet or the like, by having suitable threaded fastening members passing through keyhole-shaped slots or apertures 33 formed in the top wall 26.

Alternately or additionally, the dispenser 20 is adapted to be disposed against a vertically extending supporting surface by having threaded fastening members passing through suitable keyhole-shaped slots or apertures 34 formed in the rear wall 25 of the receptacle 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

When the receptacle is suspended to the vertical supporting surface in the manner previously described, the top apertures 33 thereof can be closed in any suitable manner to prevent dust from settling into the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21. For example, cover pieces 35, FIGURE 1, can be utilized for such purpose and comprise a button member having a flange structure 36 adapted to be snugly received in a respective keyhole slot 33 and a bordering structure 37 to overlap the opening 33 in the manner illustrated by the left-hand button 35 in FIGURE 1.

In order to hold the coiled roll of material 30 in the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21, a restraining roller 38 is utilized which is normally disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby the coiled material 30 is disposed against the roller 38 to prevent the same from moving out of the compartment 23. If desired, the sheet material 30 can be looped around the roller 38 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to be dispensed downwardly as illustrated. However, the coiled material 30 could be inverted, if desired, so that the material 30 would uncoil from the top of the roll and over the roller 33 rather than from under the roll 34) in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The roller 38 is rotatably carried by a pair of arms 39 illustrated in FIGURES -8, each arm 39 being located at an opposed end of the roller 38 and being pivotally secured to an end wall 32 in a manner noW to be described.

Each arm 38 has an outwardly directed pivot pin 40 extending from one end 41 thereof and adapted to be received in an elongated vertically disposed slot 42 formed in the respective side wall 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 8.

The other end 43 of each arm 39 is provided with an aperture 44 passing therethrough and adapted to rotatably receive a pivot pin 45 of a plug member 46 telescopically received in one end of the roller 38 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Each pivot pin 45 of the roller 38 is adapted to pass completely through the aperture 44 of a respective arm 39 and be received in a channel defining means 47 formed in the inside surface of the respective end wall 32 of the receptacle 21.

Each channel defining means 47 of the receptacle 21 has a downwardly extending portion 48 cooperating with a ledge 49 of the end wall 32 in a manner hereinafter described, the channel means 47 opening outwardly to the opened side 22 of the receptacle 21.

Therefore, it can be seen that when the roller 38 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 6, the pivot pins 40 of the arms 39 are disposed at the bottom of the slots 42 while the pivot pins 45 of the roller 38 are received in the downwardly extending portions 48 of the channel defining means 47 so that the shoulders 49 of the end wall means 32 tend to lock the roller 38 in the position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 6, whereby the roller 38 is adapted to rotate relative to the arms 39 While being held stationary by the locking means 48 and 42 of the end walls 32. 7

However, should it be desired to remove the roll of coil material 30 from the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21 or to insert a new roll of coil material 30 therein, the roller 38, when disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 6, is lifted vertically upwardly as permitted by the elongated slots 42 and the height of the channel defining means 47 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6, whereby the pivot pins 45 of the roller 38 can be moved outwardly over the shoulders 49 to the open end of the channel defining means 47 as illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 7.

After the pivot pins 45 of the roller 38 have moved beyond the end Walls 32 of the receptacle 21 in the manner set forth above, the roller 38 can be pivoted downwardly to the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIG- URE 7, whereby it can be seen that the roller 38 is completely disposed below and outboard of the bottom wall means 27 of the receptacle 21.

Thus, with the roller 38 disposed in the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 7, the coil of sheet material 30 can be removed from the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21 and/or another roll of sheet material 30 can be placed into the compartment 23 through the open side 22 thereof.

Thereafter, the coiled roll of sheet material 30 can be locked in the compartment 23 by raising the roller 38 from the dotted position illustrated in FIGURE 7 and inserting the pivot pins 45 of the roller 38 in the locking means 48 of the channel defining means 47 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 6 to hold the coiled roll 30 of sheet material 30 in the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21.

The cover member 24 of the dispenser has a pair of outwardly directed pivot pins 50 integrally molded thereto and adapted to be respectively received in cylindrical recesses 51 formed in the inside surface of the opposed end walls 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

By transversely flexing the cover member 24, the pivot pins can be received in the recesses 51 in the receptacle 21 to interconnect the cover member 24 to the receptacle 21, whereby the pivot pins 50 permit the cover member 34 to be pivotally moved about the pivot pins 59 to selectively open and close the front side 22 of the receptacle 21.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the centers 52 of the pivot pins 50 are inwardly offset relative to the center of gravity of the cover member 24, whereby gravity tends to normally hold the cover member 24 in substantially sealing relation against a downwardly extending flange portion 53 of the bottom wall means 27 of the receptacle 21, whereby the cover member 24 tends to render the receptacle 21 substantially dust proof.

Further, the top edge 54 of the cover member 24 is disposed closely adjacent the front edge 55 of the top wall 26 of the receptacle 21 when the cover member 24 is disposed in its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 4 to further tend to seal close the compartment 23 of the receptacle 21 when the receptacle 21 is being utilized for storage purposes of the coiled roll of sheet material 30.

The cover member 24 has an elongated slot 56 provided along substantially the entire width thereof adjacent the bottom edge 57 of the cover member 24 to telescopically receive an intermediate portion 58 of a cutter means 59 having a handle portion 60 disposed outboard of the cover member 24 and an enlarged guiding portion 61 received in a recess formed on the inside surface of the cover member 24 and interconnected to the slot 56 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 9.

The cutter means 59 has an inwardly directed knifelike cutting member 62 formed integrally therewith and adapted to be received in an elongated recess 63 formed in the downwardly extending flange 53 of the receptacle 21 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The recess 63 in the receptacle 21 extends substantially the entire width of the width of the chamber 23 but has its opposed ends terminated short of the inside surfaces of the end walls 32, whereby the overall length of the recess 63 is slightly smaller than the width of the sheet material 30 for the purpose hereinafter to be described.

The dispenser 20 of this invention is normally disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4. When it is desired to dispense a length of the sheet material 30 from the roll thereof, the user merely lifts open the cover member 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 and grasps the free edge of the sheet material 30 and pulls downwardly on the same to uncoil a desired length thereof from the roll 30.

Thereafter, the user merely closes or allows the door or cover member 24 to return to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3, whereby it can be seen that the knife-like member 62 of the cutter means 59 pierces through the sheet material 30 and is received in the recess 63 of the receptacle 21. Thereafter, the user grasps the handle portion 60 of the cutter means 59 and moves the same throughout the entire length of the slot 56 in the cover member 24 to sever a portion of the sheet material 30 adjacent the recess 63 of the receptacle 21, whereby the severed length of sheet material 30 remains attached to the coiled roll by only very narrow bridging portions at the opposed edges of the sheet material 30.

After the cutter 59 has been manipulated in the above manner, the user merely grasps the free edge of the dispensed length of sheet material 30 and gives a small tug thereon, whereby the small bridging portions at the ends of the sheet of material 30 break away from the coiled roll thereof to permit the severed length of sheet material 30 to be removed from the dispenser 20.

Therefore, it can be seen that an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material or the like has been provided by this invention as well as improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow,

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, said receptacle having an open side, a movable cover carried by said receptacle for opening and closing said open side, said cover being so constructed and arranged to cause gravity to force said cover to its closed position in substantially sealed relation with said receptacle, and a movable roller carried by said receptacle, said roller when in one position thereof holding said roll in said receptacle and when in another position thereof permitting said roll to be removed from said receptacle, said receptacle having surface means for supporting said roll, said surface means being so constructed and arranged that said roll is forced by gravity against said roller when said roller is in said one position thereof.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover carries movable cutter means for cutting a length of foil from said roll.

3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said receptacle has groove means cooperable with said cutter means.

4. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, said receptacle having a pivotally mounted roller, said roller when in one pivoted position thereof holding said roll in said receptacle and when an another pivoted position thereof permitting said roll to be removed from said receptacle, said receptacle having an open side and said roller being disposed inside said receptacle on one side of said open side when in said one pivoted position thereof and being disposed outside said receptacle on the other side of said open side when in said other pivoted position thereof, said receptacle having a bottom wall means and said roller being disposed above said bottom wall means when in said one pivoted position thereof and being disposed below said bottom wall means when in said other pivoted position thereof.

5. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, said receptacle having opposed end walls, each end wall having an aperture means and a channel means, a pair of arms respectively having pivot pins disposed in said aperture means and having guide means movable in said channel means, and a roller carried by said arms whereby said roller is pivotally mounted to said receptacle, said roller when in one pivoted position thereof holding said roll in said receptacle and when in another pivoted position thereof permitting said roll to be removed from said receptacle.

6. A dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said aperture means comprises a vertically disposed slot whereby said roller can be moved transversely relative to receptacle and wherein each of said channel means includes an upwardly facing depression whereby gravity will lock said roller in said one pivoted position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,487 2/ 1938 Machate et al 22536 2,117,375 5/1938 Steiner 225-43 X 2,215,052 9/1940 Price et al 22554 X 2,232,968 2/ 1941 Price et a1 22554 X 2,250,236 7/ 1941 Russell 22591 X 2,303,520 12/1942 Wilson 225--43 X 2,924,494 2/ 1960 Sloier 31239 2,957,738 10/1960 Marcuse 312-39 3,142,217 7/1964 Busse 83614 X FOREIGN PATENTS 567,643 5/ 1958 Belgium. 410,584 3/ 1925 Germany.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR METALLIC FOIL OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A COILED ROLL OF SAID METALLIC FOIL OR THE LIKE, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN SIDE, A MOVABLE COVER CARRIED BY SAID RECEPTACLE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID OPEN SIDE, SAID COVER BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO CAUSE GRAVITY TO FORCE SAID COVER TO ITS CLOSED POSITION IN SUBSTANTIALLY SEALED RELATION WITH SAID RECEPTACLE, AND A MOVABLE ROLLER CARRIED BY SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID ROLLER WHEN IN ONE POSITION THEREOF HOLDING SAID ROLL IN SAID RECEPTACLE AND WHEN IN ANOTHER POSITION THEREOF PERMITTING SAID ROLL TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING SURFACE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ROLL, SAID SURFACE MEANS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT SAID ROLL IS FORCED BY GRAVITY AGAINST SAID ROLLER WHEN SAID ROLLER IS IN SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF. 